Rev. Thomas Chambers, C.S.C.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Rev. Thomas E. Chambers, C.S.C., 83, died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind. on January 2, 2018.  He was born on August 1, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio to James Clyde and Mary Malone Chambers. He attended Gesu Elementary School, and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1952. He was received into the Congregation of Holy Cross on August 15, 1954, and entered Sacred Heart Novitiate in Jordan, Minn. Fr. Chambers took his First Vows on August 16, 1955, and then transferred back to Notre Dame for his college education in philosophy at Moreau Seminary. He finished his undergraduate degree in 1957, and took his Final Vows on August 16, 1958. He earned his MA in Theology at Holy Cross College in Washington, D.C, and was ordained a Holy Cross Priest on June 7, 1961. Fr. Chambers continued his studies after his Ordination at Notre Dame and earned a master’s degree in education in 1962, and then a doctorate in the same discipline in 1976.  In 1962, he taught for a year at Notre Dame High School for Boys in Niles, Ill. He returned to the University of Notre Dame in 1963 to pursue his doctorate, and at the same time he served as an Associate Vocations Director, and then later as Director of Student Residence. In the final year of his doctoral studies, he served as Chaplain at St. Joseph High School in South Bend, Ind. From 1975 to 1986 he was Vice President of Academic Affairs at Ursuline College in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1987, he moved to New Orleans, La., to serve as President of Our Lady of Holy Cross College for the next 16 years.  In 2003, Fr. Chambers became President of the Willwoods Community, a non-profit organization that provides affordable housing for the elderly, and in 2007 while still serving at Willwoods, he became President of WLAE/TV and LAE Productions. He was assigned to Holy Cross House in the fall of 2017.  Preceding him in death are his parents, James Clyde and Mary Chambers, his brothers Dr. James and John, and his sister-in-law Virginia. He is survived by his brother Joseph (Clyde), his sister-in-law Helene, 15 nieces and nephews, and 34 great-nieces and nephews.  Visitation will be from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., with a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m., on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, IN. The Funeral Mass will be at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame on Friday, January 12, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in the community cemetery at Notre Dame. Arrangements will be handled by Kaniewski Funeral Home in South Bend, Ind.Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at donate.holycrossusa.org.